Page 97 of Storm and Tempest
Hollace sighed.
Jax hadn’t taken his attention from Maizie, but just then he glanced at Ramon. His friend met his gaze, shaking his head very slightly. Exactly. She wasn’t okay. He’d figured that had a lot to do the fact none of them were. Kenna was gone, and they had no idea what was happening to her—which for Maizie would bring up some pretty serious memories. Maybe even flashbacks.
He wondered if she hadn’t been okay since they’d discovered Kenna was gone and she’d hidden it better than he realized.
“Maze?” he said, gently.
Her eyes remained unfocused.
“Look at me, honey.” He’d always been so cautious of not triggering her, leaving getting in her face to Kenna so he didn’t trigger any of her trauma. “I need you to look at me, Maizie.”
She sucked in a breath, but her eyes found his.
“It’s just me and Ramon.” Jax was aware more people had come in. Maybe Amara and Bruce. Preston and Earl Jonas, orBear. He didn’t know who, but they had an audience. “Focus on me.”
“They know something is going on with you, Maze.” Bear came around and stepped between Hollace and Jax.
The move made Jax wonder if she was going to get overwhelmed with the proximity of males around her. He couldn’t help it, though. He needed her to talk to them.
Bear continued, “You’re shutting out people who care about you. But do you know what? When I didn’t want to talk to anyone, you hit me up and kept tabs on me. You didn’t let me lose myself, making me tell you where I was.”
“It was just a ping.” Her voice sounded hoarse.
“You probably saved my life. That means I owe you, and I’m choosing to repay that favor right now. You haven’t contacted me in months.”
“I’ve been busy.” She scrunched up her nose for a second. That response had been far too quick. A defensive reaction.
Jax said, “What was going on in here when we came in?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.” He needed to get moving but wanted this out in the open before he left. “Cards on the table, Maze.”
“It wasnothing. I don’t have to connect my stuff to their system. They’ll be able to see everything.”
“And you’ll be able to see all of ours,” Hollace said. “Full access. Because we have nothing to hide.” The implication being that Maiziedidhave something to hide.
A machine at the other end of the room beeped.
“No one gets in Kenna’s system.” Maizie shook her head. “I promised her that her stuff would be secure.”
Jax caught something in what she wasn’t saying. “Did you break that promise, Maze?”
Maybe it was redundant to keep using her name, but he needed the personal connection. She needed to be the personshe was with Kenna—strong and capable. The woman she was becoming, not the scared child with no power in a horrible situation.
She flinched, and her face scrunched up.
“Told you.” The words were quiet and came from somewhere behind him. Amara.
Bruce sniffed. “You and I are going to talk about how you chose to reveal that.”
Amara said, “I don’t owe you anything.”
“Guess not.” Bruce didn’t sound happy.
Jax glanced over his shoulder and tipped his head for them to get out of the room.
Bruce shook his head. “I’m not leaving Maizie until I know she’s okay. Amara can go.”
